Server downtime phase #1 [UPDATED] 24 hour notice

UPDATE: Due the server issues and random 503s today, I don't think it's fair for any of us to have to sit through a whole weekend with it, so we have decided to move the server upgrade date closer. See below.

Update 2 : The reason for the time of the day is because that is when it's out of office hours here, so the server guys can dedicate 110% of their time to us uninterrupted. 


 I posted some information on the last blog about the upcoming structure changes, and I have good news, we're commencing phase #1.

There is a total of 2 phases, the first is a complete re-design of our server structure, the second is hardware upgrades. Phase 2 may not be needed depending on how much the server improves with the new optimised setup, but this phase needs to be done regardless of any improvement, just for efficiency, optimisation and keeping things running as fast as possible.

More on phase #2 if we need it next week.

The downtime will be FRIDAY 13th JANUARY 2012 evening at 7pm server time (UK time). The downtime will be between 4 and 8 hours.

The server guys will setup a separate server which I will be updating so you can keep an eye on our progress (instead of getting the "SERVER NOT FOUND" error message).

Thanks for your patience as I try my best to get RoB as fast as possible for all.

(I am also aware it's Friday the 13th we're doing this, not superstitious are you?)

Ash

Server architecture changes

Server architecture changes
With the constant growth and activity on Reign Of Blood, the guys who run the servers have offered up a 7 page PDF file of different routes we can take with the server structure to make it run much more efficiently. I am going to spend the next few days analysing different methods with them and getting the ball rolling as soon as possible. More info on this when we proceed.

Sorry for any inconvenience with any lag spikes or 503s you're getting. We know when it happens, and doing all we can as fast as we can to get it sorted.

Blog changes

Due to abuse on the page view system on the blogs, blog popularity is now based on the amount of comments a blog has, not its page views. This new comment count now shows on your profiles too. In the blog center, the views are still viewable, although they are for reference only. The blog directory no longer shows private blogs, and the lists now show [friends] or [public] depends on what that blog is set to.

More updates to come.
Ash

Thank you for 2011

Thanks to all the players

Thank you for logging into RoB today, and over the past year, thank you for reading this blog. Without you, RoB is nothing.

Thanks to all the staff

Thanks to all the staff, the ACT, the mods, the QOTD, helpers, everyone for helping keep the site is line over the past year. Everyone should go fill their comments with thanks!

Thanks to everyone for buying

Bought VIP, plasma, potion credits etc this year? Well THANK YOU. You keep this site running and allow me to continue making it better. I hope I continue to get the same support throughout 2012.

As a thank you

As a small thank you, it's double turns and RAHP until SATURDAY NIGHT! That's pretty intense.

December competition winner

You sure all think up good RoB - themed Christmas songs! The best one goes to ~Queen~Achtland~ (279430), the 2 other top songs go to Destiny Nostram (267488) and Lilah (545977). They get 10 Vampsant gifts each. Good effort! And thanks for everyone who entered.

January competition

This months competition is to come up with an awesome idea for the upcoming Valentines day event here on RoB next month. Come up with the best idea for a valentines event and you could bag yourself 20 plasma!

New awesome features next week. Can't wait!
Ash

Reign Of Blood 2011 in a nutshell

Happy new year!

2011 has been a great year. Here are just some of the highlights:

- Sortable enemy lists
- Bounty hunter system
- Greenwood
- New portal world map
- New quest log layout to accommodate more quests
- New profile layouts
- Battle reports
- New family & friends system
- Upload avatars onto RoB instead of URL linking
- Introduction of the social panel
- Trik's potion shop
- "Bite out of poverty" the start of our charity campaigns
- Custom quick links
- Hit 500,000 total signups
- Coven quests
- Pets & Mount Tilia
- NPC's returned to the Dead City
- Project RAHP introduced
- New RP features including character creation
- $1338 raised for charity!
- VIP Subscriptions

2012 we're going to see a lot of new stuff, and I can't wait to get it rolled out to you guys. Thanks for another great year!

3 Collectibles

As promised, all players who got all 3 of the VIP collectibles in the special packs can use this promocode (you can still get all 3 now and still redeem the promocode until the event ends): 3collectibles

Xmas special & event

The Xmas plasma and special and all the festive features will be removed in 3 days time. Get in what you can now!

Yesterdays downtime

We're sorry for the downtime yesterday, there was a few glitches that popped up which of course has been fixed, everything should be back to normal now. An added bonus for this downtime has been added to the promocode below.

Thank you for playing RoB in 2011, here's a little promocode: 2011rocked

Here's to a great 2012!
Ash